Which of the following would you expect to see on a bone marrow biopsy stained with Prussian Blue in a patient with iron deficiency anemia?
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Correct answer: Complete absence of stainable iron
Prussian Blue (Perls' stain) is used to detect iron. In iron deficiency, the stores in the bone marrow macrophages are exhausted, resulting in an absence of stainable iron, which is the definitive diagnostic gold standard.
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More Iron Deficiency Anemia questions
- Which enzyme's activity is directly impaired by a lack of iron, contributing to the symptoms of iron deficiency beyond just anemia?
- Free Erythrocyte Protoporphyrin (FEP) levels increase in iron deficiency anemia because:
- A patient with iron deficiency anemia is started on oral ferrous sulfate. Which of the following is the first sign of an effective response…
- Which of the following decreases the absorption of non-heme iron in the diet?
- The 'Mentzer Index' (MCV/RBC count) is used to differentiate between iron deficiency and which other condition?
- Why is iron deficiency anemia associated with 'Hypochromia'?